USA.com / Pennsylvania / Dauphin County / Wiconisco, PA / 17097 / Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
17097 Zip Code Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in 17097 Zip Code is about the same as Pennsylvania average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in 17097 Zip Code is higher than Pennsylvania average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #885
| 17097 Zip Code | 0.07 |
| Pennsylvania | 0.17 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| 17097 Zip Code | 0.0000 |
| Pennsylvania | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #839
| 17097 Zip Code | 122.51 |
| Pennsylvania | 109.77 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 4,004 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of 17097 Zip Code were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 3 | Cold: | 24 | Dense Fog: | 18 | Drought: | 54 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 527 | Hail: | 627 | Heat: | 90 | Heavy Snow: | 79 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 16 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 108 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,147 | Tropical Storm: | 1 | Wildfire: | 4 | Winter Storm: | 54 | Winter Weather: | 52 |
| Other: | 200 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near 17097 Zip Code.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 2 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near 17097 Zip Code.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 27.9 | 1964-05-12 | 4.5 | 33 | 40.2 | -76.5 |
| 48.5 | 1984-04-23 | 4.4 | 5 | 39.92 | -76.36 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 47 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near 17097 Zip Code.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 4.0 | 1950-07-05 | 2 | 40°36'N / 76°45'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Dauphin | |||
| 5.9 | 1953-09-12 | 2 | 40°40'N / 76°41'W | 40°39'N / 76°35'W | 4.70 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Northumberland |
| 19.8 | 1992-07-17 | 2 | 40°24'N / 76°23'W | 1.00 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lebanon | |
| 20.0 | 1957-11-19 | 2 | 40°18'N / 76°35'W | 2.00 Miles | 13 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lebanon | |
| 20.0 | 1978-08-28 | 2 | 40°51'N / 76°48'W | 40°52'N / 76°46'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Northumberland | ||
| 21.1 | 2004-07-14 | 3 | 40°17'N / 76°35'W | 40°17'N / 76°35'W | 7.50 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 18.0M | 0 | Lebanon |
| Brief Description: Thunderstorms spawned a strong F3 tornado in southern Lebanon County during the afternoon of July 14. The tornado first touched down in far western Lebanon County at 3:05 pm EDT, about 1 mile west of the town of Campbelltown. The tornado traveled east, and struck a housing development about one quarter mile south of Route 322. A total of 32 homes were destroyed, with another 37 homes sustaining significant damage. An additional 50 homes and 9 farm buildings in the area were damaged by downburst winds associated with the thunderstorm which spawned the tornado. The tornado continued along a path to the east for seven and one half miles. The tornado crossed Route 322 west of Mount Pleasant, and continued east, mainly across fields, until it lifted up about 2 miles northwest of the town of Cornwall at 3:15 pm EDT. The width of the tornado was one quarter mile. Although the tornadic damage was confined to the path described, additional damage occurred outside this path, again associated with downburst winds from the parent thunderstorm. Winds were estimated between 175 and 200 MPH, making this a strong F3 tornado on the Fujita scale. The tornado injured 24 persons, one critically. There were no deaths. The American Red Cross opened a mass care center, where over 50 people required assistance with sheltering. Between 25,000 and 30,000 customers lost power in Lebanon and Berks Counties as a result of the storms. | |||||||||||
| 21.4 | 1978-08-28 | 2 | 40°53'N / 76°52'W | 40°51'N / 76°48'W | 3.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Snyder |
| 21.6 | 1967-10-18 | 2 | 40°13'N / 76°45'W | 40°19'N / 76°36'W | 10.20 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 11 | 250K | 0 | Dauphin |
| 22.1 | 1970-03-26 | 2 | 40°16'N / 76°46'W | 2.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Dauphin | |
| 24.2 | 1977-04-05 | 2 | 40°15'N / 76°50'W | 2.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Dauphin | |
| 24.9 | 1970-06-18 | 3 | 40°24'N / 76°18'W | 40°24'N / 76°14'W | 1.90 Miles | 880 Yards | 1 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Lebanon |
| 28.9 | 1967-09-21 | 2 | 40°25'N / 77°11'W | 0.10 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Perry | |
| 29.9 | 1981-07-26 | 2 | 40°52'N / 76°15'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Schuylkill | |||
| 29.9 | 1970-07-02 | 2 | 40°09'N / 76°37'W | 1.00 Mile | 1760 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lancaster | |
| 30.5 | 1975-10-11 | 2 | 40°17'N / 76°29'W | 40°10'N / 76°11'W | 17.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lebanon |
| 30.9 | 1985-07-31 | 2 | 40°10'N / 76°54'W | 40°09'N / 76°51'W | 3.00 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Lancaster |
| 34.1 | 1980-04-09 | 2 | 40°44'N / 77°19'W | 40°43'N / 77°17'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Snyder | ||
| 34.3 | 1991-05-06 | 2 | 40°05'N / 76°40'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Lancaster | |
| 35.1 | 1992-10-09 | 2 | 40°07'N / 76°57'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | York | |
| 35.5 | 1969-07-27 | 2 | 40°04'N / 76°42'W | 0.30 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | York | |
| 36.2 | 1953-11-23 | 2 | 40°06'N / 76°24'W | 0.10 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Lancaster | |
| 38.3 | 1963-03-27 | 2 | 40°00'N / 76°51'W | 40°03'N / 76°32'W | 17.00 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | York |
| 39.0 | 1950-11-04 | 3 | 40°12'N / 76°07'W | 40°16'N / 76°04'W | 4.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Lancaster |
| 39.1 | 1955-08-19 | 2 | 40°24'N / 77°23'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Chester | |||
| 39.3 | 1989-06-15 | 2 | 40°02'N / 76°30'W | 40°02'N / 76°26'W | 4.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Lancaster |
| 39.5 | 1950-11-04 | 3 | 40°16'N / 76°04'W | 40°24'N / 75°56'W | 11.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Berks |
| 39.6 | 1985-05-31 | 3 | 41°09'N / 76°55'W | 41°07'N / 76°50'W | 4.00 Miles | 2640 Yards | 2 | 20 | 25.0M | 0 | Northumberland |
| 40.4 | 1989-06-15 | 2 | 39°58'N / 76°40'W | 40°02'N / 76°30'W | 9.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | York |
| 41.0 | 1980-06-07 | 2 | 40°02'N / 77°01'W | 40°02'N / 76°57'W | 3.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | York |
| 41.2 | 1985-05-31 | 3 | 41°08'N / 76°58'W | 41°09'N / 76°55'W | 4.00 Miles | 910 Yards | 2 | 20 | 25.0M | 0 | Union |
| 41.2 | 1992-07-15 | 2 | 40°53'N / 76°00'W | 1.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Schuylkill | |
| 41.3 | 1989-06-15 | 2 | 40°02'N / 76°26'W | 40°00'N / 76°24'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lancaster |
| 42.1 | 1961-07-29 | 2 | 39°58'N / 76°40'W | 39°59'N / 76°30'W | 8.80 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | York |
| 42.6 | 1961-07-29 | 2 | 39°59'N / 76°30'W | 40°02'N / 76°15'W | 13.40 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Lancaster |
| 42.9 | 1980-06-07 | 2 | 40°01'N / 77°04'W | 40°02'N / 77°01'W | 2.30 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Adams |
| 43.0 | 1979-10-05 | 2 | 40°21'N / 75°55'W | 1.00 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Berks | |
| 43.6 | 1956-06-13 | 2 | 39°57'N / 76°43'W | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | York | |||
| 44.6 | 1985-05-31 | 3 | 41°11'N / 77°09'W | 41°08'N / 76°58'W | 11.00 Miles | 910 Yards | 2 | 20 | 25.0M | 0 | Lycoming |
| 45.6 | 1989-06-20 | 2 | 40°22'N / 77°30'W | 2.00 Miles | 23 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Perry | |
| 45.7 | 1998-05-31 | 3 | 40°29'N / 75°54'W | 40°29'N / 75°44'W | 8.30 Miles | 120 Yards | 0 | 7 | 1.4M | 0 | Berks |
| Brief Description: A violent thunderstorm produced a swath of wind damage across the northern half of Berks County and included an eight mile long strong F3 (Fujita Scale) Tornado that devastated the borough of Lyons. Seven persons were injured (five within Lyons). About 40 homes were either destroyed or damaged in Lyons, Maiden Creek, Maxatawny and Richmond Townships. Preliminary damage estimates for the entire event were placed at $1.5 million dollars. About 10,250 homes and businesses lost power. The last homes to come back on line were in Lyons on June 3rd. This was the first tornado of that strength to occur in Southeast Pennsylvania and the Southern Poconos since the Limerick Tornado on July 27, 1994 and the first F3 tornado to occur within Berks County since November 4, 1950. Even before the tornado formed, the parent thunderstorm was producing wind damage in western Berks County. Wind damage started in Centre Township as several trailers were overturned in Donny Acres. In Leesport, the severe thunderstorm ripped the entire roof off one home. The couple in the house was temporarily trapped after the porch roof they use to access the stairs collapsed. The thunderstorm also ripped the roof and some bricks off a detached garage. Other houses and buildings on East Main Street also had some minor wind damage. Debris from a knitting company's air conditioning unit pelted a neighborhood. Wind damage also occurred in Ontelaunee Tonship along Pennsylvania State Route 61. The tornado made its initial touchdown just to the east of Lake Ontelaunee in Maiden Creek Township around 9 p.m. EDT and moved almost due east across Richmond Township into the borough of Lyons (about 910 p.m. EDT), across southern Maxatawny Township and lifted in northern Rockland Township and 915 p.m. EDT. The tornado was on the ground for about 8.3 miles. Its path width was around 120 yards. The tornado destruction started near U.S. Route 222 in Maiden Creek Township as the roof was blown off one farmhouse. A vehicle was also crushed by a tree. In Maxatawny Township six homes were severely damaged. One house collapsed on Smoketown Road in the Bowers area. A second house lost its roof in the Arrowhead Development. The damage increased across Richmond Township as 10 homes or farms were destroyed or damaged. Pennsylvania State Route 662 was closed between U.S Route 222 and the Fleetwood Borough line because of downed poles and trees. Parts of U.S. Route 222 were also closed because of debris on the road. One house completely collapsed. At one farm the tornado toppled a huge silo and ripped off the roofs of another silo and the barn. At another home, the remains of a large metal storage bin rested on top of the house. Golf ball size hail also damaged two vehicles and a metal awning. The same parent thunderstorm also produced straight line wind damage farther south in Ruscombmanor Township. The worst damage occurred in the borough of Lyons. The north side of the borough was destroyed. About one quarter of the borough's 550 residents were affected by the tornado. The tornado damage within this borough led to a presidential declaration of a disaster area for Berks County. About 100 residents were sheltered. The tornado cut a two block wide path along Hunter Street just north of the Conrail Tracks. About 25 homes were heavily damaged, several collapsed. Miraculously, only five persons were injured. The last two tornado related injuries occurred in northern Rockland Township as it lifted and threw a modular home from its foundation. The two men inside were injured. The tornado then lifted. Although the tornado lifted, the parent thunderstorm still produced wind damage across eastern Berks County. Noble Street was closed in Kutztown because of downed trees and lines. Trees were also uprooted in Longswamp Township. Downed limbs and wires caused power outages in District, Greenwich, Longswamp and Rockland Townships. | |||||||||||
| 45.8 | 1968-09-10 | 2 | 40°58'N / 75°58'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Luzerne | |||
| 46.7 | 1952-07-23 | 2 | 40°37'N / 77°34'W | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Mifflin | |||
| 47.2 | 1982-04-17 | 2 | 41°12'N / 76°24'W | 41°15'N / 76°21'W | 4.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Columbia |
| 47.5 | 1976-07-29 | 3 | 41°12'N / 77°16'W | 41°14'N / 76°47'W | 25.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lycoming |
| 48.1 | 1980-06-07 | 3 | 39°56'N / 77°01'W | 1.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Adams | |
| 48.8 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 40°21'N / 75°48'W | 1.00 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Berks | |
| 49.5 | 1952-04-05 | 3 | 39°48'N / 76°59'W | 39°57'N / 76°43'W | 17.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | York |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.